Compare towns
Ware vs Hampton vs Hardwick vs New Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
New Salem has the most homeowners (89%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ware | Hampton | Hardwick | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
10,101Highest |
2,684 |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
55.6±2.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±6.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$97,163±$4kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$79,688±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$359,000±$40k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,194±$88 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,509 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
86.7%±25.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Salem and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | — | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.